Shaft coupling



H. F. CARES ET AL SHAFT COUPLING Filed Nov. 23. 1921 i I i Aug. 9 1927.

ENTORS w vNwMmwMmy ma N\\ Q @H m MN WI h verw W nm:

ATTORNEY y,

Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY` F. v CARES AND ROLAND MARSLAN D, 0F ESSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO WESTINGHVOUSE ELECTRIC &` MANUFACTURING PORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPANY, r A COR- SHAFT COUPLING.

. Application led November 23, 1921. Serial-No. 517,275.

figure is a .loiigitudinalsectionV through a l device embodying our invention.

ln the operation of expansion couplings, it is essential that the element which transmits the torque ,of the 'driving shaft-to the driven shaft be eectively lubricated to avoid the large power losses and the rapid deterioration incident to the excessive triction resulting from'r insufficient lubrication. It is also desirable to effect lubrication of the coacting surfaces of the members'haviiig a relative sliding movement by means of` `which compensationl for varyingl shaft rlength is effected, in orderv to obviate the diiiicultyof sticking orrusting together of these surfaces. Superior and more effective lubrication is obtained by the use of fluid lubricant, such as oil, rather than., with heavy greases, but the useV of such 'luidr lu-A bricant is attended with mechanical difti vided with a spiral groove 23, by means of '.whi'ch lubricant is introduced betii'een the rulties, such as proper" distribution' to the rapidly rotating surfaces to be lubricated.

With the above and other object-s in View,

we have devised a coupling structure in which fluid lubricant is introduced into au chamber formed between the coupling niembers, and is thence distributed to the various points to be lubricated. Other structuralV features of our invention Will be apparent from the sub]oined descriptlon.

)referring to the drawings for a more de-Y tailed understanding of our invention, We showat 10 a driving sha ft adained to rotate a driven shaft 1l. The driving shaftv l0 is rigidly secured by any well' known means tol a driving member 12, which consists of a cylindrical body i portion having an y inte-Y grally `formed circumferential fiange 13, provided with a series of spaced holes 14,

bushed in any suitable manner.v The driven shaft 11is similarly secured to a" driven member 16, having an integral, circumferential lange 17, the driven member 16 being similar in general form to the driving mem` ber 12` Rigidly secured to the driven menifber' 16 and in axial alignment therewith is a sleeve member 18 which consists of. a hollow cylindrical portion havingv the projecting flanges 19 and 20. v The flange 19 is rigidly bolted to the'tlange 17 of the' driven member 16 by means of bolts 21. 4The [lange V20' carries a series of suitably secured driving pins 22, the, projecting ends of which are adapted [to operatively engage the n bushed, holes v14 in the flange 13 of the drivl ing member 12, thus constituting a torquetransmitting connection between the driving and driven members. A

"Tlierhollow sleeve member 18 partially embraces the body portion of the driving member 12 in such a manner as to permit of a limited axial movement between them, es "is wellunderstood in the art to which our invention relates. Relative axial movement between the anges 13 .and 20 is permitted by corresponding travel of the pins 22. in the bushed holes 14.*The vouter surface of the cylindrical' driving member 12 isf procoacting surfaces of the member 1270i the sleeve 18` in a manner hereinafter described. The ends of the members 12 and 17, and

lthe" inner Wall of the sleeve member 18 delhousing 25. lThe passage 26 is provided withv a ort or nozzle 27 communicating 'with its ower end. On the end of the member 16 adjacent the port 27 is formed an `overhanging,'dependent flange 28, which deines,plwith the member 16.,"'an annular follows.

trough 29, adapted to receive lubricant from the jet of lubricant passing through the nozzle 27. The lubricant so received is retained in the trough 29 by virtue of the centrifugal force to which it is subjected in consequence of the rotation of the member 16, The member 16 is also provided with a longitudinal duct 30, communicating with the trough 29 and with the chamber 24. Thefc'entr'ifugal force of -rotation of the member 16, acting on the lubricant in the trough 29, causes it to flow throug the duct 30 into the chamber 24. From the chamber 24 a portion of the lubricant passes, by means of the spiral groove v23,.between the coacting surfaces of the member 12 and the sleeve 18. v

Lubricant also flows through a longitudinal duct 31 in the driving member 12 from the cham'ber24 to an annular trough 32, formed on the outer end of the ,driving member 12 'byan overha'nging, dependent flange 33, similar to the lflange 28 on the driven 'member 16. The duct 31 may be tapped near the middle of its length by a branch duct'36, by means of which additional lubricant is supplied to the ,coacting surfaces of lthe member 12 and the sleeve 18, supplementing the lubrication of these surfaces by the spiral groove 23. The driving member 12 is provided with a number, of radial passages or ports 34, corresponding in lnumber to the driving pins 22 which connect the vtrough 32 with the bearing surfaces 14, which vcoact with the pins 22. By reason of the centrifugal force acting on the lubricant in the trough 32, lubricant is forced through the ports 34 to `the driving pins 22.

The operation of our device, asA has been indicated in the Aforegoing description, is as Lubricant under Ypressure .is supplied. to the inlet passage 26 in the coupling housing 25, and passes through the nozzle 27 4in a' jet, directed at such an angle as to strike the shaft 11 at a point close to vthe end of the *driven member l16. From this point the lubricant spreads out and is caughtby the annular .trough 29, in which it is retained by the centrifugal force of rotation, and from which it is fed through the duct 30 to the chamber 24. From lthefchamber 24, a, portion of the lubricant is fed through the spiral groove 23 between the coacting surfaces of the sleeve member 18 and the driving member 12, lubricating these surfaces with respectto their relative sliding movement.

The remainderof the lubricant is fed .by reason of centrifugal force, through the longitudinal duct 31 to the annular trough 32 on the driving member 12, vthence by way of theradial passages 34 tothe coasting surfaces of the pins `422'and the bushed holes 14 lin the flange- 13.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in Ythe appended claims.

`What we claim is 1. In a shaft coupling of the expansion type, in combination, a first couplingmember, a second coupling member having a sleeve adapted to engage the first coupling member in axially sliding relation and defining a chamber therewith, torque-transmitting means connecting the first coupling member and the sleeve, centrifugal means including longitudinal ducts whereby lubricant is supplied to the chamber through the second couplingmember, means includinga spiral groove whereby lubricant is fed between the sleeve and the first coupling member from the chamber, and means including a. longitudinal duct through the first coupling member whereby `lubricant is yfed from the chamber to the torque-transmitting means.

2. ln a rotary shaft coupling of the axialexpansion type, in combination, 'a first coupling member, a second coupling member having a sleeve engaging the first coupling member in axially sliding relation and defining a chamber therewith, torque-transmitting means connecting the first vcoupling member and the sleeve, centrifugal means including a longitudinal duct in the second couplingmember for supplying lubricant to the chamber, and means including a longitudinal `duct through the first coupling men'iber for supplying lubricant lfrom the chamber to the torque-transmitting means. 3.. 'ln a shaft coupling of the axial-L eXpa'nsion type, a first coupling member, a second coupling` member having a sleeve engaging. the first coupling member in axially vsliding relationand definingia chamber therewith, torque-transmitting means connecting the first coupling member and vthe sleeve, a housing surrounding the second coupling member Aand provided with a lubricant admission port, means associated with the second coupling rmember for receiving the lubricant from the port and conducting it to the chamber land means for effecting Vthe distribution of the lubricant from the chamber to the slidably engaging surface of the Afirst cOllpling member and the' sleeve.

4. In va shaft coupling ofthe axial-expansion type, 4a first coupling member, a. second coupling member Aengaging the first coupling member and forming a chamber therewith, lcentrifugal means associated with the second coupling memberfor receiving and vpropelling lubricant, a longitudinal duct in 1,638,796 Y l B the second coupling member for conve ing first coupling and the secondl coupling lubricant from the centrifugal. prope ling members. means into the chamber, and centrifugal In testimony whereof, we have hereunto 10 distributing means associated with the first subscribed our names this 15th day of 5 coupling member for distributing lubricant November. 1921. l

from the chamber to a plurality of pointsV HARRY F. CARES. along the slidably engaging surfaces of the ROLAND MARSLAND. 

